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Kings, Farmers And Towns
What is ‘Allahabad Prashasti’ ? What is its significance? Does it contain the description of Samudragupta’s victories?
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What is the historical significance of Allahabad Pillar Inscription?
Allahabad Prashasti or prayaga Prashasti is an inscription found at Allahabad. It is written in sanskrit.
As the name suggest it is a Prashasti, written in praise of the ruler Samudragupta, a ruler of Gupta dynasty by his court poet Harishena. Like any other Prashasti it's significance is debatable. For example some historian tries to find factual datas from it but we need to keep in mind that those who composed and read them often treasured them as works of poetry rather than as accounts that were literally true. Although there can be some truth in it but caution is needed when handling such texts.
For example in this prashasti the poet Harishena mentions the victories of Samudragupta. The inscription is a panegyric praising Samudragupta and lists the political and military achievements of his reign including his expeditions to the south. It is not just the victories that mentioned here but name of the places that were conquered by him and who paid tribute to him.
Through the use of the inscription historian are able to reconstruct the ruler named Samudragupta.
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List some of the problems faced by epigraphists.
Discuss the main features of Mauryan administration. Which of these elements are evident in the Asokan inscriptions that you have studied?
This is a statement made by one of the best-known epigraphists of the twentieth century, D.C. Sircar: “There is no aspect of life, culture and activities of the Indians that is not reflected in inscriptions”. Discuss.
Discuss the notions of kingship that developed in the post-Mauryan period.
To what extent were agricultural practices transformed in the period under consideration?
Compare Maps 1 and 2, and list the Mahajanapadas that may have been included in the Mauryan Empire. Are any Asokan inscriptions found in these areas?
Collect newspapers for one month. Cut and paste all the statements made by government officials about public works. Note what the reports say about the resources required for such projects, how the resources are mobilised and the objective of the project. Who issues these statements, and how and why are they communicated? Compare and contrast these with the evidence from inscriptions discussed in this chapter. What are the similarities and differences that you notice.
Collect five different kinds of currency notes and coins in circulation today. For each one of these, describe what you see on the observe and the reverse (the front and the back). Prepare a report on the common features as well as the differences in terms of pictures, scripts and languages, size, shape and any other element that you find significant. Compare these with the coins shown in this chapter, discussing the materials used, the techniques of minting, the visual symbols and their significance and the possible functions that coins may have had.
What is meant by Janapada?
What were the Mahajanapadas? Name a few important Mahajanapadas.
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